First there was the podcast, then we were hooked on the Netflix show and now we’re obsessed with the documentary. It’s official: Dirty John has taken over our free time.
Coming into our lives by way of a 2017 LA Times podcast, the story about con-man John Meehan took the world by storm, prompting Netflix to produce a dramatised show based on the true story of Meehan and his relationship with Debra Newell, starring Eric Bana and Connie Britton. Now, the streaming platform has released Dirty John: The Dirty Truth, a documentary which speaks with the real people behind the story.
The documentary features interviews with Newell and her daughters, as well as a number of other women that Meehan scammed and traumatised. It also shows Meehan’s own two daughters, who we only see as young children in the dramatised version.
The documentary also sees Christopher Goffard, the Los Angeles Times journalist who created the now-famous podcast about the conman, give his take.
Featuring never before seen photos, extra information about Meehan (including that he used to share his drugs with his brother, sending them via mail) the documentary is a must-watch for any fans of true crime.
Dirty John: The Dirty Truth is available to stream on Netflix now.
